A strong magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit off the coast of Indonesia in the early hours of Saturday, causing structural damage and prompting a tsunami alert. Residents in the affected areas were advised to relocate to higher ground as a precautionary measure.
According to the U.S Geological Survey, the earthquake struck the Flores region of Indonesia with a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:58 a.m. local time. The epicenter was situated 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende city in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Following the initial quake, several aftershocks were felt, but no immediate casualties were reported. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning for specific provinces and advised residents to avoid coastal areas.
The agency identified the shallow undersea quake near Flores island. Coastal residents were urged to stay vigilant and move to higher ground while authorities monitored tide gauges for any unusual changes.
The earthquake’s impact was widespread across Flores island, resulting in damage to residential and public buildings. However, official assessments regarding the extent of the damage or any casualties were pending release.
Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka in East Nusa Tenggara province, witnessed buildings being damaged by the intense tremors, prompting people to seek refuge in safer areas. She mentioned witnessing the collapse of the port terminal’s waiting room in Maumere.
At St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, where students were attending a morning Mass, panic ensued as the assembly hall’s roof collapsed. The seminary’s rector, Rev. Guidelbertus Tanga, recounted the chaotic scene where students and nuns evacuated the premises to avoid harm. One priest sustained a broken leg while escaping from a building during the quake.
Indonesia, with its vast archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, is susceptible to seismic events and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the “Ring of Fire,” a region known for high volcanic and earthquake activity. In a tragic incident in December 1992, a magnitude 7 earthquake triggered a tsunami that claimed approximately 2,500 lives on Flores island.